HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2001-116 N.C.S. 06/18/2001Resolution No. 2001-116 N.C.S.
of the City off Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION AND
SUPPORTING THE SONOMA COUNTY AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION AND
OPEN SPACE DISTRICT'S ACQUISITION OF THE DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS ON
THE LAFFERTY RANCH PROPERTY IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE LAND
FOREVER FROM DEVELOPMENT AND AID THE CITY IN COVERING EXPENSES
ASSOCIATED WITH SECURING ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY AND OPENING THE
PARK PER THE CITY'S PLAN
WHEREAS, the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District
(OSD) has a stated objective (Objective 2 of Acquisition Plan 2000) to "assist local, regional,.
State and Federal agencies and non-profit partners in establishing parks and preserves which
protect Sonoma County's unique natural habitats, scenic areas and other open space resources of
regional importance," and a policy (Policy 2e) to "give priority to public recreation projects that
are included within adopted agency plans, that are consistent with the 1989 Sonoma County
General Plan, and where the managing agency or organization can demonstrate its commitment
and ability to accept the property and open it to public use in a timely manner"; and
WHEREAS, the current (1989) County General Plan and previous county plans since
1964 have proposed a nature park at or near the site of Lafferty Ranch; and
WHEREAS, the citizens of the South County have paid over $22 million into the OSD
through the sales tax, over $13.5 of which came from Petaluma proper; and
WHEREAS, OSD has spent less than $500,000 for acquisitions with potential for public
access in the vicinity of Petaluma; and
WHEREAS, county studies presented in the Draft Outdoor Recreation Plan (ORP) show
the South County/Petaluma area with the county's largest deficit in open space park acreage
(1,782 acres needed by the year 2010, out of a total. countywide deficit of 4,843 acres); and
WHEREAS, scientific opinion surveys conducted on behalf of the County show the
public's highest priorities for outdoor recreation are hiking and nature study within parks/natural
Resolution 2001-116 N.C.S.
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open space, findings which coincide with statewide surveys also cited in the Draft ORP; and
WHEREAS, in 1998, OSD paid $255,000 to the State of California to purchase aforever-
wild conservation easement over a 290-acre portion of the Sonoma Developmental Center
property, establishing a precedent of acquiring development rights from a governmental agency;
and
WHEREAS, in 1999, voters in the City of Sonoma had to resort to a referendum to
prevent the sale of their "unused" city-owned hillside open space to a developer, establishing a
local reminder that public ownership, without the constituency that comes from public access,
enjoyment, and stewardship of the land, camlot be relied upon to protect scenic land from
development; and
WHEREAS, Urban Growth Boundary prompted City-centered development and the
growth of the high-technology industry in the South County, among other factors, are increasing
the demand for accessible open space in the hills surrounding urban areas; and
~.
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma has since 1959 owned the Lafferty Ranch property,
270 acres of land on Sonoma Mountain, the dominant landform in the South County, which
offers the perennial Adobe Creek, deep canyons, oak-bay woodlands, broad rolling meadows,
and panoramic vistas of the Petaluma Valley, the Bay Area, the North Coast, and the Pacific
Ocean, and which has been a designated park site in the City's General Plan since 1962; and
WHEREAS, the City is seeking to develop an open space park with trails on its Lafferty
Ranch property, based on a plan developed jointly over atwo-year period by City residents and
Sonoma Mountain residents, and over the years has invested $858,000 in this effort, including
the completion of an exhaustive Environmental Impact Report on its proposed management plan;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma maybe prevented from opening Lafferty Park to
volunteer efforts of development and general. public use by the City's inability to finance
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Page 2
protection of its park plans against litigation from park opponents; and
WHEREAS, the City, if unable to utilize the Lafferty property for a park, may eventually
choose to sell the property for development, since the current zoning would allow the
construction of four homes, enabling the City to utilize the funds for other City needs, including
outdoor recreation facilities; and
WHEREAS, the OSD, through purchase of the development rights on the Lafferty
property, can protect forever this highly visible and scenic land from development, and aid the
City in covering the expenses associated with securing access to the property and opening the
park per the City's plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Manager is hereby authorized to
submit a grant application to the OSD for funds to cover the purchase of the Lafferty Ranch
development rights; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Petaluma City Council urges the County Board
of Supervisors and the OSD to proceed with the purchase of the development rights on the
Lafferty Ranch property, and for their respective staffs to work cooperatively towards this goal.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on, Monday, June 18, 2001
by the following vote:
Approved as to form: ,
City Attorney
AYES: Vice Mayor Cader-Thompson; Healy, Maguire, Torliatt; Mayor Thompson
NOES: O'Brien, Moynihan
ABSENT: None
ATTEST: C~~ ~" "
City Clerk Ma r
Resolution 2001-1 16 N.C.S.
Page 3